Marriage contract no. 313: Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Bevern - Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Wolfenbüttel

Contract content

Preamble: Invocation of God, affirmation that marriage should be entered into voluntarily and for the growth and prosperity of the duchy

Article 1: Marriage agreed

Article 2: Dowry of 17,500 Reichstalers agreed, interest on which regulated

Article 3: Furthermore, 8,000 Reichstalers are to be provided for the purchase of clothing, gifts, equipment, carriages and horses

Article 4: Renunciation of inheritance regulated

Article 5: Mornig gift worth 6,000 Reichstalers regulated; in the event of the bride’s death, this is to revert to her husband or the princely heirs

Article 6: Life estate regulated; an annual widow’s pension of 3,000 Reichstaler is agreed upon, and a decision shall be made within two months as to where the widow wishes to take up residence

Article 7: If the Bevern line should die out without male descendants and the appanage reverts to the ruling princely house, the widow’s pension shall be increased by a further 6,000 Reichstaler; if only princesses are born of this marriage, the ruling princely house shall be responsible for their maintenance in accordance with their rank and, upon their marriage, for their dowry and trousseau

Article 8: Should the bride die without biological heirs, an inventory of the dowry and any property left behind shall be drawn up; the dowry shall pass to the ruling sovereign, and all other property shall be distributed to the next heirs or, if applicable, in accordance with the provisions of the will. Should the groom die and there still be minor or underage heirs, the widow shall, in addition to other possible guardians, be granted guardianship and shall be responsible for the upbringing of the children; her widow’s pension shall not be affected by these costs and shall remain hers for as long as she retains her widowhood; If the bride should remarry, she shall continue to be entitled to the marriage settlement and her property; if children are born from the subsequent marriage, the inheritance shall be divided between the children of the first and second marriages, but shall go entirely to the children of the first marriage if there are no further heirs from the second marriage.

Article 9: If something occurs that is not specifically regulated in this marriage contract, the imperial rights, the imperial constitution or the procedures customary in one’s own household shall apply.

Article 10: Reaffirmation by all parties involved to abide by the terms of the contract, mention of three copies of the contract.

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 4: Renunciation of inheritance regulated

Article 8: If the bride dies without biological heirs, an inventory of marital assets and other property left behind shall be drawn up; marital assets shall pass to the ruling sovereign, all other property shall be distributed to the next heirs or, if applicable, in accordance with testamentary provisions; Should the groom die and there still be minor or underage heirs, the widow shall, in addition to other possible guardians, be granted guardianship and shall be responsible for the upbringing of the children; her widow’s pension shall not be affected by these costs and shall remain hers for as long as she retains her widowhood; If the bride remarries, she shall continue to be entitled to the marriage settlement and her property; If children are born from the subsequent marriage, the inheritance shall be divided between the children of the first and second marriages, but shall go entirely to the children of the first marriage if there are no further heirs from the second marriage.

Commentary

Articles 9 and 10 are not marked as such in the original.

Literature

References

• Archive copy: NLA WO, 3 Urk, 2 Nr. 138
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 313. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/313.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 313},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/313.html}
}